The move towards sustainable methods of farming production has been in process for some time, now. It is a beneficial practice for both the environment and farmers’ bottom line. Everyone: from farmers to the government itself, should look towards eco-friendly practices as the future of the farming industry.
Even so, sustainable farming is not without its challenges. Read on to learn more about just a few of the issues farmers are currently facing.
Carbon Footprint of Composting
Since organic farms don’t use artificial fertilizers, they rely mostly on composting to enrich the soil and attain better yields. This is considered a more natural and overall better option for the environment. While true, there is still the issue of the carbon footprint created during this process.
This is due to the process of composting itself, using animals that produce high levels of methane. Methane is a gas which contributes to the greenhouse effect, and will add greatly to a farm’s carbon footprint.
Fungicides
Sustainable farms need fungicide in order to prevent their plants from becoming diseased, thus protecting yields. This is done using natural materials, such as natural fungicides that use copper. Unfortunately, the copper remains in the soil for a much longer time than other ingredients. This is true for many insecticides as well, but the issue is most prevalent in terms of fungicides.
Tillage
One of the best ways to protect your soil is to implement no-tillage policies. Leaving the soil undisturbed will protect it, ensuring it stays nutritious for longer periods of time. Sustainable farms do so by using cover crops to loosen the soil, to replace the tillage process.
However, this creates its own problem. Cover crops are usually weeds, which can interfere with the yields farmers rely on. This may require a farm to turn to herbicides, sustainable options for which are limited. options are limited.
Lower fertilization
Organic and eco-friendly farms are typically less fertilized than traditional farms. This causes less yield overall, resulting in smaller profits. The problems also stem from the ability to plan your yields and income in the future. Some fertilization can be accomplished by natural means, but it will remain a constant problem for sustainable farmers attempting to compete with other, traditional farms in their area.
Being Preachy
Focusing on consumers to drive change is the best way for sustainable farms to become something more than a niche in the public eye. It may take time for sustainable practices to become widely accepted by the general public. Sustainable, eco-friendly options are often seen as pretentious, or “preachy”. This is something only “green” farmers face, since traditional farms are considered the current norm.
Conclusion
Sustainable farms are often seen as a solution to all farming problems. While this is true to an extent, the practice offers its own fair share of challenges: for both farmers as well as the land on which they rely.